Five books into the Rosalind Thorne series, and things are getting REALLY juicy. Between the death of her crappy father, continuing developments with the hunky Bow Street Runner Harkness, and Napoleonic espionage, there's no lack of excitement, which keeps the plot moving at a rapid clip. Rosalind remains a likable, compelling heroine, cleverly working her way as an independent business woman through a society that would thwart her goals at every turn. Wilde's series has enough substance to appeal to folks who disdain cozy mysteries, but isn't too hefty to deter folks in search of a lighter read. All around, another solid installment in a solid series.

This series is a delight. I appreciate how strong Rosalind is written - it would be easy for her to be overpowered by the storyline but Wilde maintains her voice.

Sir Reginald Thorne is a drunkard, a forger, and a liar. Unfortunately, he’s also Rosalind Thorne’s father, thankfully estranged. When his misdeeds caught up with him, he ran off to Paris with his other daughter Charlotte, leaving his wife and Rosalind behind, penniless. After her mother’s death, Rosalind had to find a way to eke out a living. She became a Useful Woman.

As an adult, Charlotte was the means of income as a courtesan, supporting her father but keeping a tight rein on him. A fire in the neighborhood gives him a chance to escape. He was seen stepping into a carriage, but no one knows who it belonged to.

Moving on the edges of society, Rosalind’s able to help ladies in distress, who may have been careless in who they spent time with or who wrote a letter that shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands—like those of a husband. She doesn’t accept anything so crass as money, but payment disguised as gifts are given.

Mrs. Walford, a widow, has been on the fringes of society and wishes her daughter to be properly married. A suitor has arrived on the scene, but is he who and what he claims? Blemishes are easy enough to find in his past, but he has a slick explanation for each one and a smirk that says he’s outplayed Rosalind’s every move.

That’s when Sir Reginald makes an appearance—at the opera in full view of society. He’s drunk, of course, and obscene to boot. He’s accompanied by Russell Fullerton, a blackmailer who has declared his wish to destroy Rosalind for her interference in his schemes in the past.

Rosalind is shocked when she hears of her father’s murder and Fullerton’s arrest. More shocking is Fullerton’s request that she prove his innocence.

With rumors of espionage, Napoleon loyalists, embezzled funds, gambling, and murder, a second body, and Charlotte’s return, Rosalind isn’t sure she will be able to solve this mystery in time to save her own life.

This is book five in the series. Rosalind is a woman to be admired. She is in dire circumstances but manages to make the best of them. It’s a change of pace to read about the lives of women who have strict rules of society to follow, who have servants, but no freedom and how they manage to get around the rules at times. Readers will be anxious to see if Charlotte stays in the picture, if Rosalind saves the day, and will the spark of romance in her life ignite?

Rosalind Thorne is a fixer. Self-effacing, well-connected, inventive and persistent, she is a highly sought-after woman within the ton. She is respected for her ability to smooth over awkward social situations and discover the truth behind incipient scandals, thus preserving a person’s social reputation. Her clients are ladies of quality, women whose lives are “cabined, cribbed, confined,” unlike the choices made by their husbands and sons, fathers and brothers. Regency England’s high society was so insular that it was paramount that whispers and rumors be quickly crushed lest a family be given a social death sentence.

A widow, Mrs. Walford of Manchester, has need of Rosalind’s good offices. The Walford family are in London for the Season. Rosalind explains all to her house-mate and friend Alice, noting that Mrs. Gregory recommended her to Mrs. Walford. In this milieu, it’s all about who you know.

Mrs. Walford said she wanted to give a charity ball to raise money for the widows and orphans of the late wars, before the ton scatters for Christmas.

“But what Mrs. Walford really wanted . . .” Alice leaned forward eagerly.

“Was for someone to look into the background of a young man her daughter had met,” said Rosalind. “Mr. Horatio Salter.”

Is Horatio Salter a worthy supplicant for the hand of Miss Augustina Walford, an heiress with a respectable portion? Because the Walfords from Manchester, they don’t have an entrée into society that would allow them to investigate Mr. Salter’s bona fides on their own. Rosalind notes, “This leaves them vulnerable to fortune hunters.” Her research on Salter has uncovered some disturbing information: he was “part of the 1814 stock fraud.” A rumor spread from a coffeehouse that Napoleon was dead. Based on that news, many people went on a “stock-buying spree that had cost the public millions of pounds.” Although Salter was an insignificant actor in the fraud, he did disseminate the fraudulent tale. Alice thinks it’s cut and dried—he’s a fraud in search of a fortune and Mrs. Walford correctly smelled a rat. Rosalind has him pinned dead to rights. What’s the problem?

“I don’t know,” Rosalind sighed. “It’s something about Miss Walford herself. She shows all the signs of being attached to Mr. Salter, but there’s a way she looks at him, and at me sometimes, like she’s suspicious.”

“Could she have guessed that you’re checking up on her fiancé? If my mother did any such thing, I would have been furious!”

Rosalind has family problems that impede her ability to focus on the Walfords. Rosalind works for a living because her unscrupulous father, “Sir Reginald Thorne—a drunkard and forger,” squandered the family fortune. He recently escaped from Bath where Rosalind’s sister Charlotte paid for him to be incarcerated in a small house, with a keeper who kept him placated with enough alcohol to somewhat satisfy him. Sir Reginald is furious with his ignominious situation and he’s determined to wreak revenge. Rosalind has made some enemies, particularly a Russell Fullerton who has had his “blackmail schemes” upended by the perspicacious young woman. Fullerton intends to ruin Rosalind’s reputation by launching Sir Reginald on the ton. His plans are upended when someone murders Sir Reginald. Fullerton is arrested and jailed. He asks Rosalind to visit him in his cell, proclaims his innocence and asks her to help. He fears he will not get a fair hearing. Why should she?

“You seem to forget, Mr. Fullerton, I also am not well disposed to you personally,” said Rosalind. “You have repeatedly threatened my complete destruction, and that of my sister. You chose to try to use my father against me, and because of your actions, he is dead. Whether you held the knife or not, you are responsible. Why should I concern myself with your troubles?”
“Because, woman, I did not do it! And the one that did is still out there! Is he to be allowed to go free because you want revenge?”

Would Fullerton assist Rosalind, were the situation reversed? She agrees to help him, not for the five thousand pounds he offers but for the access she will gain to his secrets after he turns over his keys. Information is the currency that keeps Rosalind afloat.

A Counterfeit Suitor is a complicated story with many connecting strands. Fullerton knows Salter. The formidable society hostess, Countess Lieven, meets with Rosalind and intimates that Mrs. Walford’s dinner to support the widows and orphans of war may not be quite as it appears. It takes all of Rosalind’s friends and family including Alice, her sister Charlotte, and Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness to unravel the mystery of her father’s murder and the high stakes surrounding a seemingly simple question—is Mr. Horatio Salter a worthy suitor for Miss Walford? This is my first Rosalind Thorne mystery—I greatly enjoyed it and now I’m curious: how did a female fixer and amateur detective par excellence emerge from an aristocratic past?

I have most of read this series and this one is my favorite. Rosalind is finally ready to advance her relationship with Adam. Somewhat anyway. Her sister comes back into her life and is less problematic than previously. The story is a bit complicated with a murder, of course, and plot involving a plan to rescue Napoleon. The murderer was a surprise to me. This book was a bit long, that was my only complaint. Otherwise this Regency mystery with a little romance was very good.

A Counterfeit Suitor earns 5/5 Conspiracies…Don’t Miss Page-Turner!

Brilliantly engaging drama by Darcie Wilde set in the early nineteenth century with a delightful young woman who turned poverty into prosperity. In a society with very few opportunities for women, Rosalind Thorne carved out a lucrative niche for herself as a “Useful Woman” helping a certain class of woman avoid scandal or navigate a way forward and finding rewards for her confidentiality. Her newest “client,” Mrs. Walford, asks for a background check, of sorts, pitting her against a suspicious, yet very clever, suitor. But, her estranged father, Sir Reginald Throne, has returned with his own dangerous entanglements leading to his murder. Surprisingly, the man arrested for the crime, one who had threatened Rosalind for her destructive interference, seeks her help. Rosalind is no pushover, she is leery of the man’s innocence, but she needs to find out who murdered her father and why. Darcie Wilde did well creating fascinating circumstances including political intrigue, conspiracies, and secret Bonapartists along with investigation methods sans technology or data bases, and more constraining, sans the freedom for women to be so publicly nosy. I love the chapter titles and quotes like mini “what connection” puzzles along with the varied personalities, the interaction and dynamic between sisters, the complexity of twist and turns, and a shocking final reveal making this all an excellent experience. Clever. Well-plotted. Entertaining. What more could one ask for…nothing!

Darcie Wilde involves Rosalind Thorne in more murder and mayhem among the high society of Regency London. Russell Fullerton who has tried several times to entrap Rosalind as she works to discreetly save the reputations of the ton is arrested for the murder of her disgraced father. He ironically asks her to save his neck and find the real killer. Bonapartist plots, romantic and criminal intrigues and other shenanigans keep the plot rolling along. Read and enjoy the hijinks.

Regency style mystery and romance. Very descriptive writing - you can feel the fabrics, sit on the unyielding furniture, eat tea sandwiches.

Headstrong, intelligent debutante schemes and Sleuths to save her family while in search of a man who will not squelch her spirit.

For fans of Georgette Heyer.

Rosalind Thorne mysteries are multilayered and well written stories that feature a mystery but also describe how an unmarried woman lived in the Regency era.
Rosalind is a complex character: she knows the rules of the Ton, is a sort of problem solver and a very likeable characters.
This story was riveting and entertaining, there's a lot of twists and there're elements of spy story.
I think it's the best in this series so far.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another great addition to this charming Regency mystery series.

Rosalind comes face-to-face with her father, the man responsible for ruining her earlier dreams of love and marriage, at an event while on her latest case to determine if a suitor is a fortune hunter. His drunken accusations threaten her fragile position in society and her livelihood. When he is murdered, Rosalind, with some trepidation, begins to investigate. A long list of enemies, political intrigue and a possible plan to free Napoleon from his island prison confuse the issue. Rosalind will need the help of her sister and friends to make it out of this one alive.

This series does remind me a bit of a Jane Austen novel, if that novel involved murder. Of all the Regency mysteries I have read, Rosalind comes closest to what I imagine a woman trying to make her living in the precarious and fickle world of the ton would be. She is a woman trying to live her life in an unconventional way where strict protocols are expected and any misstep could be ruinous but her attitude doesn’t scream 21st century. She is a woman the reader can identify with without seeming out of place.

Rosalind and Charlotte, her sister, work together more in this book than the previous ones. They find themselves in some humorous and suspenseful moments. The secondary characters are very well-developed. They all continue to evolve and the circumstances change.

The Counterfeit Suitor seems to me a pivotal novel in this series. The ever-looming threat of her father has ended, Rosalind has finally determined where her heart lies, and her position in society is a little bit more secure. Where things develop from here will be interesting.

While you can understand this book without reading the other books in the series, you will miss a lot of the back story and the emotional nuances that are an important part of the enjoyment to this book. A good mystery, and more important, a good story awaits. Enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The fifth installment in the Rosalind Thorne series, "A Counterfeit Suitor" is a return to form from Darcie Wilde.

Back in London and engaged by the Walford family to help Mrs. Walford organize a charity ball while discretely investigating her daughter's suitor, Rosalind is shocked when her father goes missing and turns up in London, where he drunkenly confronts her at the Opera. But things aren't as they seem, when Sir Reginald, brought to London from Bath by Russell Fullerton to help him ruin Rosalind, is murdered in Fullerton's house. With help from her sister Charlotte, her friends, and of course, handsome Bow Street Runner, Adam Harkness, Rosalind sets out to find who really murdered her father and finds herself mixed up with a Bonapartist plot, and Walford family drama.

The pacing of the mystery was well plotted, and generally Rosalind's narrative leaves just enough to keep you guessing where the story is going. Occassionally, it leaves a little too much out, which can be a little confusing and had me going back to see if I missed something.

I adore this series, the historical detail is particularly strong. Rosalind has become a character I look forward to revisiting with each installment. After she broke things off with Casselmaine in the last book, I admit, I had reservations, but the growing romance between Rosalind and Adam Harkness in this one was very satisfying.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

I'd probably give the story here a 3.5, but I love the characters in this series so much, I'm bumping it up to four. I appreciated getting a story focused on Rosalind's father which might give her some closure on things. The wrinkle with her nemesis wanting her help to clear his name was great. I'd love to see some movement in Rosalind's love life now that this piece of her story has been resolved to an extent. This is a must-read series for me. Historical fans should check it out - but I'd start at the beginning rather than dropping in here. (LGBTQ+)

3.5
This series continues to deliver a perfectly good read to while away a wintry or otherwise inclement day. It's not a mystery that entirely "plays fair" if that's important to you or your readers (meaning readers are not given all the clues necessary to solve the mystery themselves before the reveal if they are dedicated enough), but it's a fun ride nonetheless. And Rosalind continues to interpret facial expressions with astounding exactitude and accuracy, but again, I think of it more as a writing tic and it's not enough of a bother to make me stop picking up the new entries. Overall, a fine book, if not something to push into people's hands.

This latest addition to the Rosalind Thorne series set in early 19th century London was far superior to the last couple volumes, in my opinion. I rank this one as the next best story to the series introduction “A Useful Woman” in terms of plot and pacing. The story had a number of intriguing twists and turns, and the intense family drama between Rosalind, her sister and father kept me interested. The slow budding relationship with Adam Harkness moved forward at a glacial pace, but at least it moved!

So much of the interplay between characters is assumed, unspoken or faintly hinted in the complex ton society mores of this era. In particular, any reference to sexuality is so discreet that I felt that I was missing clues. It was all very vague. What was actually going on between Augustina and Horatio Salter, were they lovers? Is Sanderson gay? Is Alice attracted to Amelia?

There was a more physical thriller action in this story, which was satisfying and freeing to see Rosalind running and defending her friends. I enjoyed the contrast to her typical behavior of thinking, devising and schooling her face and body so no one could know what she was thinking. How exhausting that must be! I look forward to her relationship with Adam growing so that they continue to trust one another to show their innermost thoughts.

A four star read. I thank Kensington Books for making this novel available to me through NetGalley’s Public Catalog.

Complex Regency mystery

Rosalind Thorne , daughter of Sir Reginald Thorne, (habitual drinker, gambler and forger), is supporting herself by offering her services to those wanting the know how around running the gauntlet of polite society. Years before, Rosalind’s father, heavily in debt, had fled to Paris taking her sister Charlotte, leaving behind Rosalind and her mother. Returning to England years later, Charlotte, now a highly sought after courtesan has relocated their alcoholic father to Bath in the care of minders. He escapes with the help of one Russell Fullerton, an opportunist not above blackmailing others. Indeed he’s well known for being a blackguard. Fullerton has plans to ruin Rosalind. When Sir Reginald is found dead, other factors come into play.
Currently Rosalind is helping a Mrs Walford throw a ball for charity. In reality she’s been hired to investigate a man the daughter of the house is being pursued by, a Mr. Horatio Salter.
Rosalind has become somewhat of a private problem solver for high ranking members of the ton. She has a close affinity with a Bow Street runner Adam Harkness. She is on speaking terms with Countess Lieven, a patroness of Almanack’s.
Indeed her forays into discreet inquires for others of high society has earned Rosalind more friends than she knows.
What she doesn’t anticipate is where her investigations for the Walford's might lead, including espionage and troubled rumours of Bonaparte supporters.
A well constructed, solid and enjoyable read overlaid with surprising revelations and a quiet romance in the wings.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

This story was full of historical detail and description of places and events. There were a lot of twists and turns as Rosalind tried to do as she was hired. At first, I thought I figured out who the killer was but, as the story ramped up, I found a different thread to follow. I enjoyed the interactions between Rosalind, Adam, Alice, Charlotte, even Fullerton. They gave the story personality and some witty moments. I recommend this story to historical mystery readers, especially details of this time and a couple surprises appearances.

I received a copy of this story through Elle Wood Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

The mystery kept me guessing and I like visiting historical England. I also like the characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another exciting installation of the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries! Rosalind becomes entangled in many intrigues when her current employment turns out to be more than it seems; the death of her father seemingly at the hands of her greatest foe and the rise of bonapartists in England. All seem to be separate occurrences, but are they really tied together? Can Rosalind with the help of her friend Alice and of course the help of Adam Harkness find out before it's too late?

A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde (Rosalind Thorne Mystery #5) 4.5 stars

A sequel to last years "A Lady Compromised", we see Rosalind Thorne going about her daily business since she made the decision to refuse to marry her ex-suitor. But she has received unwelcome news, her estranged father, Sir Reginald Thorne has escaped his caretakers with the assistance of Russell Fullerton. Mr. Fullerton is determined to ruin Rosalind in retaliation for interfering in his blackmail schemes. Bringing a drunk Sir Reginald into the public view would be disastrous to Rosalind's livelihood. But is there something more sinister than mere revenge in play; before Rosalind can find out, Sir Reginald is killed and Fullerton is arrested for the crime. Rosalind reluctantly agrees to investigate because she wants to find the real killer.

This is the fifth Rosalind Thorne mystery and they keep getting better. She is a cross between a fixer and a private investigator for the aristocracy. She has made herself "useful" in order to live and survive. This book had so many threads to pull and weave into a coherent picture. I found myself confused at times at the various plots throughout the book. The book delivers an emotional punch; we get to see the anger and sadness and grief that made Rosalind into the person she is. One scene that stands out is the scene where she shows Adam her "insurance policy" against her father and there is an impassioned speech about the inequities of the law and customs of the time. In regards to her relationship with Adam, I think there will be a slow and steady progression in future books. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review “A Counterfeit Suitor.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The latest Rosalind Thorne historical mystery has our heroine engaged to look into the background of a young man who is a potential suitor for a young lady with a considerable dowry; fortune hunters not wanted, of course. Seems easy enough, but Rosalind has other things on his mind; her dissolute father has escaped from his “house imprisonment” in Bath, where Rosalind’s courtesan sister has been keeping him. Sister Charlotte says she is soon to be married, and with Father running around, ready to blame them for his troubles, he can destroy the two sisters in the eyes of society. Which, as anyone knows from reading books set in this historical period in particular (Georgian), is a Fate Worse Than Death.

“A Counterfeit Suitor” moves pretty quickly from the get-go, and you won’t be surprised to eventually find these two stories intertwined, including a murder that strikes close to home. Our author, Darcie Wilde is adept at plots that embrace the real with the fictional, with a lesson in the history of the times which involved those in England who conspired and plotted to restore Bonaparte to the throne. She also lets us see how society regarded the worth of women, or more accurately, perhaps, the little worth that women had, to some. These societal "rules" drive all the women in this book, some that reclaim a life, as do Rosalind and Charlotte, for instance, and another that attempts to make a life, to their detriment and with tragic results.

An author’s note explains the research that went into this particular story, detailing the plans to rescue the ex-Emperor of France. Aside from numerous spelling errors (a good editor would have helped), “A Counterfeit Suitor” should satisfy Rosalind Thorne fans once again, especially those who are rooting for her and Runner Adam Harkness.